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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
Circadian rhythms in medicine
1School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, TX, USA.
Abstract:
Circadian (24-hour) rhythms are important to the practice of medicine. The phasing and amplitude of key physiologic and biochemical circadian rhythms contribute to predictable-in-time patterns in the manifestation and exacerbation of most medical conditions. Moreover, body rhythms can significantly affect responses of patients to diagnostic tests and medications. Rhythmicity in the pathophysiology of medical conditions is the rationale for chronotherapeutics--the purposeful variance of the concentration of medicines in synchrony with biological rhythm--determinants of disease activity--to optimize treatment outcomes. This article discusses the concept of biological time structure and its relevance to the practice of medicine, with a focus on neurologic issues.
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